Midway Lets Frosh Meet Living Groups

The Residence Midway last night drew a throng of freshmen and
upperclassmen together in the Johnson Athletic Center to explore
residential options on the eve of rush.

The midway, a new addition to Orientation, allowed all freshmen the
opportunity to discuss their living options with a limited number of
upperclassmen from each living group.

Freshmen and upperclassmen both arrived via controlled entrances to the
event, which was closed to the general upperclass population. Each
fraternity and independent living group was allowed to send 10
representatives; each dorm was allowed to send 15 members.

Sororities did not participate in the event; they had separate open
houses earlier in the evening. The Panhellenic Council as a whole did have
a booth at the event.

Despite "10,000 logistical problems," the event was "going great,"said
Duane H. Dreger '99, president of the Interfraternity Council during the
evening.

Judging by the number of freshmen at the event, Dreger predicted that
"this rush is going to be fine"for FSILGs.

Fraternities and independent living groups were assigned spaces based on
their rush points within the IFC, which awards points for participation as
officers in the rush system.

More favorably ranked fraternities and ILGs were placed closer to the
entrance for freshman on the second floor, while lower ranked fraternities
and ILGs were placed closer to the exits on the first floor.

Dormitories chose to be grouped together and were clumped into four
groups, Dreger said, with one group being the language houses.

The event went "very well from what Icould see," said Dean for Student
Life Margaret R. Bates. It was a"good idea."

The event ended at 11 p.m., one hour earlier than initially planned.

"They had kinda guessed it at midnight," said an IFCJudicial Committee
member who did not wish to be identified. "The freshmen decided to end it
themselves"by leaving the event.

Violations handled at medcomm

The living groups at the event were policed by members of both the
IFCand the Dormitory Council judicial committees.

Violations noted by a JudComm member from the same council as the living
group would be handled internally, Dreger said. Other violations would be
handled at a later date by the mediations committee, he added.

All living groups were restricted to a specific space and could not
approach freshmen. In addition, living groups were prohibited from serving
refreshments to freshmen.

Very few violations were initially noted, said Katharine E. Hardacre
'99, who chairs the IFCjudcomm. A few fraternities had to lower their signs
to comply with an eight foot limit on all signs.

Student s enjoy event

Despite the strict rules, upperclassmen thought the new midway was a
vast improvement on Thursday Night Dinners for all involved.

"It's a lot less intense and a lot more laid back,"saidLaurieM. Leong
'00, who lives at Next House. However, fewer freshmen seemed to know what
was occurring with rush this year compared with previous years, Leong
added.

As opposed to Thursday Night Dinners, where upperclassmen would take a
nearly-random group of people to dinner, the new Residence Midway allowed
the fraternities the opportunity to get a better feel of the freshman
class, Richter added.

Freshmen also seemed to enjoy the event. "I think this is a lot better
approach,"said Jonathan Lee '02, who had heard of the schedule used during
Residence and Orientation week last year. He said he was "impressed with
the fraternities. They were very nice and very considerate."